Compaction apparatus



Aug. 22, 1967 M CLAR COMPACTION APPARATUS 5 Sheet -Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1966 INVBNTOR MILTON CLAR BY Ska 0110 8661 01?!) ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1967 CLAR COMPACTION APPARATUS 5 Sheets$heet L Filed Jan. 24, 1966 FIG. 3

INVENTOR MILTON CLAR BY Ska 9(a) ATTORNEYS Aug.22, 1967 v M. LAR 3,336,861

COMPACTION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1966 ShGGC S GQ 5 ||o v ML R 96 9a 4-H ON W 94 (6F? U 102 me 19% I f 56' p az' I l 1 ti; CR 1 m o if 62' L8 3' I 4 CR3 '00 07 no v 30 Amp.

W INVENTOR cv 72 MILTON CLAR 4 5 BY Ska 0170 and Ska 000 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,336,861 COMPACTION APPARATUS Milton Clar, Bethesda, Md., assignor to Clar-Shayne, Washington, D. C., a partnership Filed Jan. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 522,724 15 Claims. (Cl. 100-45) This application is a continuation-impart of Ser. No. 350,325, filed Mar. 9, 1964, for Apparatus and Method for the Compaction and Disposal of Refuse, now Patent No. 3,231,107, granted Jan. 25, 1966.

This invention relates to the compaction and disposal of refuse or other loose material, and more particularly, to operating systems for compaction apparatus.

The above co-pending application discloses and claims compaction apparatus for receiving trash from a chute in a multi-level building and for automatically packing the trash into a container, which later is disconnected from the packer, rolled out of the building to a self-loading vehicle, lifted and emptied into the vehicle.

In order for such compaction apparatus to be practical, it must be fully automatic, that is, it must sense the presence of trash, commence operation to pack the trash into the container, and then cease operation automatically. The operation should be reliable, should avoid damage in the event of jamming, should provide easy clearance of jamming, and should indicate when the container is full or when the apparatus is jammed. It is also desirable that the apparatus avoid erratic operation in response to small amounts of trash and that the apparatus be closed against rodents and fire hazards.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide improved compaction apparatus and improved control systems for compaction apparatus which meet the foregoing requirements.

Briefly stated, but without intent to limit its scope, the invention, in a specific embodiment, utilizes compaction apparatus having a compaction blade which is moved horizontally through a compaction chamber by a linkage motivated by a hydraulic ram. The inlet to the compaction chamber is normally closed by the blade and an associated battle when the blade is in its rest position.

Trash or other material is sensed at the inlet and causes M the blade to execute a cycle of operation in which the inlet is opened to admit the trash in front of the blade and in which the blade then moves to compact the trash into the container and ceases operation. Means are provided for the automatic starting and stopping of the blade and for the reversal of blade movement. In accordance with specific features of the invention, means are provided for terminating operations in the event of jamming, for unjamming, and for indicating a jammed or container-full condition.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention and the manner in which the same are accomplished will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic'diagram of an electric circuit in accordance with one form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic circuit employed in conjunction with the electric circuit of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating compaction apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of a more refined electric circuit of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic circuit employed in conjunction with the electric circuit of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating a modification of the compaction apparatus in accordance with the diagram of FIGURES 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus of FIGURES l, 2 and 3 is disclosed in the said co-pending application. The compaction apparatus may be in the form of a small stationary packer 10 for compacting trash or other material into a detachable container (not shown). For example, the packer may be located in the basement of a multi-story apartment house having a chute which conveys trash by gravity from access doors on each floor to the inlet 12 of the packer. The inlet may be surrounded by a hopper 14, which may be extended by the use of suitable sheet metal to enclose the bottom of the chute.

The packer blade 16 is illustrated in its forward position with the front or packing surface 18 located at the outlet 20 of the packer. The detachable container has a corresponding inlet aligned with the outlet 20 when the container is attached to the packer. The blade is of rectangular box-like configuration having in addition to the front wall 18 a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24, and a pair of side walls 26. The rear of the blade is open and the top wall has a longitudinal slot 28 to accommodate a link 30 when the blade is retracted as shown by phantom lines in FIGURE 3. The lower end of the link is pivotally con nected to the blade at 32, being embraced between a pair of parallel plates '34 (one of which is shown in dash lines) fixed inside the blade.

When the blade is in its forward or extended position, illustrated by the full lines in FIGURE 3, it occupies the compaction chamber defined by the bottom wall 38 of the packer housing and the vertical side walls 40 of the housing below the hopper. The top wall 22 of the blade closes the inlet 12, slot 28 in the blade being closed by a baffle plate 36 pivotally suspended at the lower edge of the rear wall of the hopper 14 and depending in front of the blade when the blade is retracted from the compaction chamber, as shown in phantom lines.

The blade is moved by a linkage including link 30 and a link comprising a pair of parallel link parts 42 (one of which is shown in FIG. 3) which embrace link 30 and are pivotally connected thereto at its center 43. The lower ends of link parts 42 are pivotally mounted upon the packer housing at 44 by brackets and embrace a hydraulic cylinder 46 mounted vertically in the housing. The upper end of the piston rod 48 of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected at 50 to the upper end of link 30. The pivot points 32, 44, and 50 form a right triangle, the horizontal and vertical proportions of which change as the blade moves. The vertical motion of pivot 50 is guided by a track 52 to relieve lateral stresses. As shown, the motivating apparatus for the blade is enclosed within a rear chamber 54 of the housing into which the blade recedes.

The hydraulic ram 46 is supplied from a hydraulic system which will be described more fully hereinafter. The operation of the ram is controlled by an electrical circuit .which includes a photoelectric sensor 56 and a pair of limit switches LS1 and LS2. Limit switch LS1 may be mounted on the inside of the side wall closest to the viewer in FIGURE 3 and may be operated bya projection 58 from the rear edge of the corresponding side wall of the blade and by the side wall itself. Limit switch LS2 may be mounted on the inside of the opposite side wall for operation by the corresponding rear edge of the blade.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the hydraulic cylinder 46 is supplied with hydraulic fluid by a pump 60 driven by an electric motor 62. These elements and a control valve 64 may be supported at a convenient location in the packer housing. Suitable hydraulic lines 66 extend from the control valve to opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder.

Valve 64 is a two-position flow-reversing valve moved to one position by a solenoid 68 and moved to the other position by a return spring 70. When the motor 62 is energized, pump 60 pumps fluid from a reservoir 72 through the valve 64. If the solenoid is deenergized, the fluid fl'ows to the upper end of cylinder 46 and is returned from the lower end of the cylinder through the valve to the reservoir. If the solenoid is energized, as by a circuit including a source of electric power and a pressure switch 74 responsive to the hydraulic pressure at the upper end of cylinder 46, the valve 64 will reverse its position, thereby reversing the flow of hydraulic fluid with respect to the cylinder and reversing the movement of the piston rod 48. When the solenoid 68 is deenergized, the spring 70 will return valve 64 to its former position. Springbiased pressure relief valve 76 is a safety measure to prevent excessive pressure build up.

The drive apparatus of the packer is photo-electrically controlled and operates automatically in response to the presence of refuse material in the hopper 14. A light source (not shown) is provided at one side of the hopper adjacent to the bottom of the hopper (that is, opposite to the photo-electric sensor 56 An aperture is provided in the hopper wall for passage of a light beam from the source, which may be mounted outside of the hopper. The light beam extends medially across the bottom of the hopper and passes through an aperture at the opposite side to the photoelectric relay 56. The light source and relay may be part of an assembly sold by the General Electric Company and designated as GPlOSCl Comb. B. As indicated in FIGURE 1, the photoelectric relay 56 comprises a photocell 78, a relay coil 80, and a switch 82, the relay being energized from the usual 110 volt AC power supply lines and providing a 6 volt output for energizing the light source and for supplying the relay coil when required.

The operation of the packer will now be described.

The rest position of the packer blade 16 is slightly back of the forward position illustrated in FIGURE 3 (about an inch behind the illustrated position). As long as there is no refuse in the hopper 14, the apparatus remains at rest. When material is dropped into the hopper so as to interrupt the light beam, relay coil 80 (FIG- URE 1) is energized, closing switch 82 and energizing the pump motor 62. Solenoid 68 is still deenergized, so that the valve 64 is in the solid line position illustrated in FIGURE 2. Energization of motor 62 causes the pump 60 to supply hydraulic fluid to the upper end of cylinder 46, which moves the piston rod 48 downwardly and moves the compaction blade 16 forwardly. When the blade is moved (about an inch), to its forward position illustrated in FIGURE 3, the piston rod 48 reaches the lower limit of its travel. The resultant increase in hydraulic pressure at the top of the cylinder actuates the pressure switch 74, closing the switch and energizing the coil 84 of the relay 86. This closes the ganged switches 88 and 90 of the relay, energizing the solenoid 68 and energizing a holding coil 92 of the relay through the normally closed limit switch LS2.

Energization of the solenoid reverses the position of the valve 64, causing the piston rod to move upwardly and the compaction blade 16 to move rearwardly. Although the hydraulic pressure at the top of the cylinder drops and the pressure switch 74 opens, relay 86 remains energized by the coil 92, and the solenoid 68 remains energized.

After the blade has moved a short distance, (slightly more than an inch) plate 58 at the side of the blade engages the feeler of switch LS1, closing the normally open switch. As the blade moves rearwardly, the side wall 26 of the blade maintains the switch closed, providing an energization circuit for the motor 62 independent of the photoelectrically actuated switch 82.

As the blade moves rearwardly, the refuse in the hopper drops into the compaction chamber in front of the blade, removing the obstruction of the light beam, so that relay coil is deenergized and switch 82 is opened. The blade moves rearwardly to the phantom line position shown in FIGURE 3, baflie 36 dropping in front of the blade. When the blade is in its rearward position, the feeler of the switch LS2 is engaged, opening the normally closed switch and deenergizing the holding coil 92. Switches 88 and 90 of relay 86 open, deenergizing the solenoid 68. The return spring 70 of valve 64 then moves the valve to the full line position illustrated in FIGURE 2, reversing the flow of hydraulic fluid and causing the piston rod 48 to move downwardly again. The blade thus moves forwardly again, reclosing switch LS2, which is now ineffective because switch 90 is open. As the blade moves forwardly the refuse material is pushed into the container, being compacted as the container fills. The blade moves forwardly until the sideplate 58 disengages the feeler of switch LS1; the switch then opens and deenergizes the pump motor 62. Movement of the blade stops. A new cycle of operation is instituted each time the light beam is interrupted.

If the blade encounters an immovable obstruction in its forward movement, the pressure switch will be closed prematurely, and the blade movement will be reversed to facilitate clearance of the obstruction. The packer will cycle as long as the obstruction persists, but no damage will be done. Prolonged operation may be indicated by a suitable alarm, if desired, which would also indicate over-filling of the container. Several containers may be available at the packer site if large amounts of refuse are to be handled. Also, the electric control system may be deenergized during disconnection of the container from the packer.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a refined operating system of the invention. Corresponding parts have been illustrated by primed reference numerals.

In FIGURE 6 it will be observed that three limit switches LS1 (normally open), LS2 (normally closed), and LS3 (normally closed) are employed. LS3 and LS1 are operated by the upper end of link 30, switch LS3 being mounted about one inch higher than switch LS1. Switch LS2 is operated by the upper end of one of the link parts 42. Switch LS3 is a snap action switch (having two sets of contacts) which is open when the blade is in its rest position. This switch closes one set of contacts when the blade moves forward slightly at the commencement of its movement, opens when the blade moves rearwardly slightly, and then closes its other contacts when the blade continues its rearward movement.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, when the light beam is broken, as before, switch 82' closes, energizing relays CR1 and CR3 through the closed lower contacts of mechanical latching relay ML and through the closed master OFF-ON switch 94. The closing of the switch of relay CR1 energizes motor 62. Hydraulic fluid is supplied by the pump through check valve CV, and the blade moves forward from its rest position a short distance (closing one set of LS3 contacts) until switch LS1 is closed by link 30, energizing relay CR2 through the closed upper contacts of relay CR3. A holding circuit for relay CR2 is provided through the lower contacts of the relay and the normally closed switch LS2. Energization of relay CR2 energizes solenoid 68 through the upper contacts of relay CR2, reversing the position of the control valve 64 and reversing the flow of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 46'.

The compaction blade -16 then moves rearwardly, opening LS1, momentarily opening LS3 and then closing other contacts of LS3 (as link 30 moves upwardly) to provide a holding circuit for relays CR1 and CR3 through the lower contacts of CR3. When the blade reaches its rearward position, switch LS2 opens, deenergizing the holding circuit for relay CR2, and deenergizing the solenoid 68. The control valve 64' returns to the position il- 5. lustrated in FIGURE and the blade moves forward until switch LS3 opens, whereupon CR1 and CR3 are deenergized and the motor stops.

The provision of contacts on LS3 which close when the blade starts its forward movement ensures that the motor will remain energized (through energization of CR1 and CR3) long enough to permit the blade to reverse its movement and return to its rest position even if the trash in the hopper is insufficient to keep the light beam broken when the blade moves forward. The momentary opening of LS3 on the reverse stroke of the blade is suflicient to terminate the cycle if the light beam is not then broken, and the apparatus then awaits additional trash before commencing a new cycle. By having the rest position of the blade behind its forward position, the

load on the motor is reduced during starting, and provision is simply made, as above, to prevent erratic and unnecessary operation in the presence of small amounts of trash, while ensuring that the inlet opening is normally closed.

If the blade becomes jammed when moving forward or if the container becomes filled, the hydraulic pressure builds up, closing pressure switch 74' and energizing the mechanical latching relay ML, which opens its lower contacts and closes its upper contacts. Relay ML is mechanically latched in this position, deenergizing the hydraulic control circuit and energizing a red indicator lamp 96. (A white indicator lamp 98 is always lit when power is supplied.)

When the custodian notices the lit indicator lamp 96, he determines whether the container is filled, and if so, he detaches the filled container and replaces it with an empty one. Reset push-button switch 100 is then closed to energize the unlatching coil 102 momentarily and to return relay ML to its former position. If lamp 96 is lit because of jamming, push-button switch 104 may be closed by the custodian concurrently with manual breaking of the light beam in order to cause the blade to move rearwardly to unjam it.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made in these embodiments, without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, the foregoing embodiments are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive of the invention, and those modifications which come within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are to be included therein.

The invention claimed is:

1. Material compaction apparatus comprising a compaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a compaction blade arranged for reciprocation in said chamber forwardly toward and rearwardly away from said outlet, said blade having a rest position adjacent to said outlet, means for closing said inlet when said blade is in its rest position and for opening said inlet when said blade moves rearwardly from its rest position, and means responsive to the presence of material at said inlet for automatically moving said blade slightly forwardly from its rest position, then rearwardly to permit said material to enter said chamber and then forwardly again to its rest position in order to push said material through said outlet, said moving means comprising a hydraulic cylinder and flow-reversing valve means for directing hydraulic fluid alternately to the ends of said cylinder, means for reversing said valve means when said blade arrives at its forward position, means for reversing said valve means when said blade arrives at its rearward position, pump means for supplying hydraulic fluid to said valve means, means for energizing said pump means in response to presence of material at said inlet, and means for deenergizing said pump means when said blade moves forwardly to its rest position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said inlet being at the top of said chamber and said outlet at the front of said chamber, said blade reciprocating below said inlet and constituting at least part of said inlet closing means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said blade moving means further comprising means responsive to the position of said blade for maintaining said pump means energized while said blade is moved rearwardly and then forwardly again. a

4. Material compaction apparatus comprising a compaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a compaction blade arranged for reciprocation in said chamber forwardly toward and rearwardly away from said outlet, said blade having a rest position adjacent to said outlet, means for closing said inlet when said blade is in its rest position and for opening said inlet when said blade moves rearwardly from its rest position, and means responsive to the presence of material at said inlet for automatically moving said blade rearwardly to permit said material to enter said chamber and then moving said blade forwardly to push said material through said outlet, said blade moving means comprising a hydraulic cylinder, two-position control valve means for directing hydraulic fluid to the ends of said cylinder alternately, solenoid means for moving said valve to one of its positions, bias means for moving said valve to the other of its positions, pump means for supplying hydraulic fluid to said valve, means for sensing the presence of material at said inlet and energizing said pump means, means for energizing said solenoid when said blade reaches its forward position, first limit switch means for maintaining said pump means energized as said blade moves rearwardly from its: forward position, holding means for maintaining said solenoid energized as said blade moves rearwardly from its forward position, and second limit switch means for deenergizing said solenoid when said blade reaches its rearward position.

5. Material compaction apparatus comprising a compaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a compaction blade arranged for reciprocation in said chamber forwardly toward and rearwardly away from said outlet, said blade having a rest position adjacent to said outlet, means for closing said inlet when said blade is in its rest position and for opening said inlet when said blade moves rearwardly from its rest position, and means responsive to the presence of material at said inlet for automatically moving said blade rearwardly to permit said material to enter said chamber and then moving said blade forwardly to push said material through said outlet, said blade moving means comprising a hydraulic cylinder, two-position control valve means for directing the hydraulic fluid to the ends of said cylinder alternately, solenoid means for moving said valve means to one of its positions, bias means for moving said valve means to the other of its positions, pump means for supplying hydraulic fluid to said valve means, means for sensing the presence of material at said inlet, first relay means energized by said sensing means for energizing said pump means, means including second relay means energized by said sensing means and first limit switch means responsive to the position of said blade for maintaining said first relay means energized, means including second limit switch means and third relay means for energizing said solenoid means when said blade reaches its forward position and maintaining said solenoid means energized as said blade moves rearwardly, and third limit switch means for .deenergizing said third relay means when said blade reaches its rearward position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising mechanical latching relay means for deenergizing said first, second, and third relay means, and means responsive to the pressure of said hydraulic fluid for energizing said mechanical latching relay means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, furthercomprising manually actuated means for unlatching said mechanical latching relay.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising indicator means energized in response to'energization of said mechanical latching relay means.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising manually actuated means for energizing said third relay means.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, said first limit switch means having means for deenergizing said second relay means and said first relay means when said blade reaches its rest position.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, said second relay means having means for controlling the energization of said third relay means.

12. Material compaction apparatus comprising a compaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a compaction blade arranged for movement in said chamber toward and away from said outlet, means responsive to the presence of material at said inlet for automatically moving said blade to push said material from said inlet to said outlet and then for stopping the movement of said blade, and means responsive to a predetermined back-pressure of said material upon said blade for terminating the movement of said blade, said means for moving said blade comprising an electric motor driven pump for supplying hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic ram connected to said blade, an electrically operated valve for controlling the direction of flow of said fluid to said ram, a control circuit including said motor and said valve, means for energizing said control circuit in response to the presence of said material at said inlet, means for deenergizing said circuit after said blade has moved to push said material to said outlet, said means for terminating the movement of said blade comprising mechanical latching relay means, which, when latched, prevents energizationof said control circuit until unlatched.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for actuating an indicator when the movement of said blade is terminated.

14. Material compaction apparatus comprising a compaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a compaction blade arranged for movement in said chamber forwardly toward and rearwardly away from said outlet, said blade having a rest position adjacent to said outlet, means for closing said inlet when said blade is in its rest position and for opening said inlet when said blade moves rearwardly from its rest position, means responsive to the presence of material at said inlet for moving said blade slightly forwardly and then rearwardly to permit said material to enter said chamber and then forwardly again to said rest position in order to push said material through said outlet, said blade moving means comprising electrical means energized in response to the interruption of a light beam by said material and comprising means for stopping said blade as it passes its rest position during its rearward movement if the light beam is not then interrupted.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, said electrical means comprising an electric motor driven pump, said means for stopping said blade comprising a switch responsive to the position of said blade for controlling the energization of said pump.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,113,115 4/1938 MacMillin et al -52 2,249,149 7/1941 MacMillin et al 100-271 2,646,745 7/ 1953 Seltzer 100-53 2,763,202 9/1956 Gramelspacher 100-52 2,963,959 12/1960 Van Doorn et al 100-50 3,024,719 3/1962 Englund 100-99 X 3,040,653 6/1962 Neitzel 100-50 3,062,394 11/1962 Bowles 214-833 3,212,433 10/1965 Raab 100-53 X 3,229,618 1/1966 OConnor 100-52 X 3,229,622 1/1966 French 100-214 3,250,414 5/1966 Pioch 100-229 X BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner. 

1. MATERIAL COMPACTION APPARATUS COMPRISING A COMPACTION CHAMBER HAVING AN INLET AND OUTLET, A COMPACTION BLADE ARRANGED FOR RECIPROCATION IN SAID CHAMBER FORWARDLY TOWARD AND REARWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID OUTLET, SAID BLADE HAVING A REST POSITION ADJACENT TO SAID OUTLET, MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID INLET WHEN SAID BLADE IS IN ITS REST POSITION AND FOR OPENING SAID INLET WHEN SAID BLADE MOVES REARWARDLY FROM ITS REST POSITION, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF MATERIAL AT SAID INLET FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOVING SAID BLADE SLIGHTLY FORWARDLY FROM ITS REST POSITION, THEN REARWARDLY TO PERMIT SAID MATERIAL TO ENTER SAID CHAMBER AND THEN FORWARDLY AGAIN TO ITS REST POSITION IN ORDER TO PUSH SAID MATERIAL THROUGH SAID OUTLET, SAID MOVING MEANS COMPRISING A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER AND FLOW-REVERSING VALVE MEANS FOR DIRECTING HYDRAULIC FLUID ALTERNATELY TO THE ENDS OF SAID CYLINDER, MEANS FOR REVERSING SAID VALVE MEANS WHEN SAID BLADE ARRIVES AT ITS FOWARD POSITION, MEANS FOR REVERSING SAID VALVE MEANS WHEN SAID BLADE ARRIVES AT ITS REARWARD POSITION, PUMP MEANS FOR SUPPLYING HYDRAULIC FLUID TO SAID VALVE MEANS, MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID PUMP MEANS IN RESPONSE TO PRESENCE OF MATERIAL AT SAID INLET, AND MEANS FOR DEENERGIZING SAID PUMP MEANS WHEN SAID BLADE MOVES FORWARDLY TO ITS REST POSITION. 